Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-09-30
ESSEN COUNTY COURT.
September Term, 1887.

The September Term of Essex
County Court convened at Guild
hall, Tuesday, September 90. After
prayer by Rev. Mr.. Gregory, the
Court was formally opened by the
proclamation of the Sheriff, and the
roll of the Grand and Petit Jurors
was called. This being accomplish
cd Judge Royce delivered quite an
exhaustive and practical charge to
the Grand Jurors, substantially as
follows:
Gentlemen of tie Grand Jury
You have been summoned upon the
present occasion to aid in the ad-
ADMINISTRATION of criminal law under
a Statute of the State, which re-
quires the attendance of a Grand
Jury at one stated term of the Coun-
ty Court in every year in each
County in the State.
1t is made the duty of the Court
TO give you some advice and instruc'
tion to aid you in the discharge of
your duty.
Aside from moral and educational
influences, experience has demon
strated that the most effectual pre-
ventive of crime is its detection, ex
posture and punishment. And the
frequency of crime diminiShes in
proportion to the certainty of its
detection, exposure and punishment
SO that its detection and punish,
ment is absolutely essential to the
public safety.
But it should be always borne in
mind that an unjust and groundlesS
accusation is a great wrong to tie
party accssed, and just reproacl
upon the administration of crimina
laws.
Hence has arisen the institution
of q Grand Jury-an intermediate
board of investigation selected from
the people and possessing the power
to accuse-but not the power to. try
and convict. A board, qualified by
the manner of their selection anC
their organization above all othel
officers of the State, to discharge the
delicate and important duty of &C
cusing the guilty and shielding the
innocent. In view of this double
purpose, the law has made an indict
ment by the Grand Jury an indis
pensible prerequisite in the prosecu
tion of those crimes the conviction
for which is expected to make thu
most serious consequences to the
party accused. This is the cast
where the punishment by conviction
could be capital or by Imprisonment
i'll the States prison for more thar
seven years. 1t is also the course
prescribed by law in certain cases Of
mere police and civil matters-sucl
as the neglect or refusal of towns t.
make and open highway established
by any Court, and the neglect o
towns to repair or keep in repai
their public highways and bridges
and to assess, collect and expend tn
tax required by law for the supper
of schools; and to appropriate TIN
interest received from the U. S. de
post money in the manner required
by law; and to keep in repair tn
fences around any public buria
ground. 1t is also your duty t.
examine and present to tn
Court the condition of the Count,
Jail.
Your jurisdiction and right Of
inquiry is general, extending to al
crimes, which are not made exclu
sivelY cognizable by some other tri
bunal. But there are certain mino
crimes and misdemeanors that jus
tees of the peace are authorized b
law to try and determine. I thin
the intention and expectation of tn
Legislature in comforting jurisdictio
upon such Courts was that that elias
of offenders shoald be tried by sue
Courts, and that it is better tina
they should be SO prosecuted. Bu
it sometimes happens that the pros,
cutting town officers so far negleC
their duty in this particular thu
there is failure to prosecute in til
towns where such offences are con
mitted, and real guilt goes unpuI
ished unless the Grand Jury TAXI
the matter in hand and present tn
accused for trial. If any such Gas
should be brought to your notice,
will be your duty to examine Il
matter and determine whether I'll
accused should be presented for tri